Speculum



W. K. BAER March 10, 1931.

srncuwu Filed Oct. 25. 1928 gvmwtoo Warez? A. 54:?

Patented Mar. 10, 1931 PATENT GEFFEQE;

WALTER K. BAER, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA srncunum Application filed October 25, 1928.

This invention relates to a novel form and construction of speculum or surgical instrument used to dilate certain passages of the body.

A particular object of my invention is to simplify intra-nasal spraying and treatment by providing a speculum readily inserted by the tips of the thumb and forefinger of one hand and readily enlarged by a slight pressure of the same thumb and forefinger, leaving the remainder of the hand free for other purposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a speculum of substantially the form ofa funnel, with such expanding and contracting means that it will be uniformly varied in size, retaining its funnel form, throughout its length upon contraction or expansion for dilation purposes.

A still further object is to provide a novel form of expansion actuation means, simple in nature and convenient and eflicient in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction, hereinafter disclosed, certain embodiments of my invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device in contracted position;

Figure 2 is a similar view of my device in partially expanded position;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the speculum comprises two separate sections 1 and 2, forming together a funnelshaped instrument. On the inner walls of sections 1 and 2 are arranged guide pieces 9 and 10 respectively.

The expanding, or adjusting means, comprises hand pieces 8 and 4 with integral bars 5 and 6, respectively. The bar 5, protruding from section 1, extends through both guides 9 and 10 and is secured to the inner wall of section 2. Bar 6 likewise extends through guides 9 and 10, in parallel relation to bar 5, and is secured to section 1.

Serial No. 314,932.

Thus to expand the speculum, a slight inward pressure on the band pieces 8 and 4, s1- multaneously, causes the sections 1 and 2 to become separated uniformly throughout spectively, for convenient application of in- 9.:

ward pressure by hand.

In operation the speculum being fully contracted, the end 11, having the smaller calibre is inserted in the nasal, or other cavity of the body, and a slight pressure by the thumb and forefinger of one hand to effect the proper (.egree of dilation of the cavity for treatment. To contract the speculum to withdraw same from the cavity, it is only necessary to push inwardly on the ears 7 and 8 with the same thumb and forefinger without releasing the grip on the speculum, the remainder of the hand and all of the other hand being free throughout the operation for other purposes.

There are certain modifications possible in my device such as the additional provision of a spring operated means to either keep the device normally contracted or normally expanded, and it is therefore not my desire to limit the scope of the invention to the actual details shown in the drawings to the exclusion of apparent modifications thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a surgical speculum, a pair of attached separable sections forming together a substantially funnel-shaped device, means for expanding and contracting said device by varying the degree of separation of said sections uniformly throughout their length, guide pieces secured to the inner adjacent walls of said sections, said expanding means comprising a bar connected to the inner wall of each section and passing in parallel relation to each other through said guide pieces, and passing through the wall of the opposite section, hand pieces integrally attached to the other extremity of each of said bars and adapted to receive simultaneous inward pressure to separate said sections, and said contracting means comprising ears attached on opposite sides of the outer Walls of said sections and adapted to receive inward pressure to bring said sections together.

2. In a surgical speculum, a pair of attached separable sections formingtogether, a substantially funnel-shaped device, means for expanding and contracting said device by varying the degree of separation of said sect-ions uniformly throughout their length,

said expanding means comprising two lateral bars'each of which is secured to one of sald sectlons, each of the oppos te sections being slidably mountedon each of said bars,

.said bars, upon the application of simultaneous. inward pressure, being adapted to separate said sections.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. ;K. BAER. 

